The subliminal message women receive from early childhood on is we should not look at, talk about, or acknowledge our vagina. It’s no wonder we have such a difficult time understanding vaginal health, or interpreting symptoms such as incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, or vaginal tissue bulge. By definition, stigma is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality. Feeling labeled or defined by a health condition can be devastating.

Women typically have never heard of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) prior to the fateful examination which indicates they...